Ever wondered how pedaling a bike could change your life, beyond just physical fitness? Discover the six unusual skills cyclists can learn from riding… and unlock your full potential as a “student of cycling.”
Photo by Florian Kurrasch (via Unsplash)
Can people really learn just by riding their bike? Sure, most folks expect to get more fit, or to be able to ride faster or longer with time and experience. But when someone clips into their pedals for the very first time, they’re usually just looking for a fun way to exercise or explore their surroundings. Little do they know that their new hobby has potential to reshape their relationship with their body, mind, and the world around them — an entirely new paradigm.
Read more: 5 Ways Cycling Transforms Your Body
It’s true! Longtime cyclists know that cycling starts as a simple hobby, but gradually becomes a bigger and bigger part of overall life. Along the way, it teaches a few life lessons: from the value of perseverance when facing steep hills, to the joy of finding new friends among fellow riders. It grows with you, ages with you, and always has something more… whether it’s a new route, a longer ride than ever before, or even a new bike. When we intentionally learn from these experiences, we grow. The daily practice of cycling builds not just stronger legs, but a stronger overall you!
So what are the biggest lessons we can learn from cycling? Enough platitudes! Let’s pin down six of the top skills you may see developing in yourself as you grow as a cyclist, as well as how to make the most of them!
1. Cycling teaches you spatial awareness.
You might imagine that learning to navigate city streets on a bike sharpens your spatial awareness in ways you’d never expect. You instinctively gauge distances, predict movements, and sense approaching vehicles without even turning your head. The dynamic 3D map of everything around you is constantly updating as you move through space, and as a cyclist, you have to be aware of it. Developing this sixth sense is a brand new skill for most people.
Don’t ride on the roads? That’s fine! Even the simplest bike path can also inspire this skill to develop. Rocks, bumps, or tree roots growing across the trail are also opportunities to practice bike handling, and the same principles of spatial awareness apply. No matter where you take your bike (or your bike takes you!), you may find yourself feeling more aware and conscious of your surroundings than you normally do in everyday life.
Understanding your body in space and time can happen in many different places or situations… but when it happens on the bike, your bike becomes a mental extension of your body. And every time you ride, you build a better understanding of this “bodily experience” of cycling.
Want to keep growing your spatial awareness and bike handling skills? Every new cyclist can improve their bike handling by riding regularly in low-stress environments, like empty parking lots or quiet residential streets. Practice basic skills like braking smoothly, looking over your shoulder while maintaining a straight line, and making controlled turns at various speeds. Once these fundamentals feel natural to you, progress to more advanced techniques like navigating tight corners. Your confidence will build naturally with each success, and your bike will feel like an extension of YOU!
2. Cycling familiarizes you with your own body and its limits.
In a similar vein, we can all learn about the limits of our body and endurance through cycling. There’s probably nothing quite like cycling to teach you about your body’s capabilities — and some of it comes in the form of aches and pains. You’ll discover (cramping) muscles you never knew existed as you tackle your first serious hill climb. You’ll also learn the difference between “I can’t” and “I haven’t yet.” On the bike, the second one is more common than the first.
As each ride pushes your boundaries a little further, yesterday’s “impossible” will become today’s warm-up. And you’ll know what you can withstand each step of the way!
Read more:Mike Kirby: Ride Long, Ride Happy
The beautiful thing about cycling is how it lets you measure progress in concrete, physical terms. A grueling climb that once left you gasping for breath eventually becomes manageable, then possibly enjoyable. This marks each transformation from novice to accomplished rider, which is an ongoing progress that can last for many years.
Most beginner cyclists start off riding for enjoyment without a clear training plan, but incorporating one into your regular riding schedule can be a game-changer. Building your strength on the bike requires a mix of different types of rides. Zone 2 training, while it feels easy at first, builds your endurance. Start with a base of these steady, moderate-effort rides, then gradually introduce structured intervals. Short bursts of higher intensity followed by recovery periods are the best way to hone your fitness through training. You can keep a simple training log to track your progress, but be sure to focus on riding consistently rather than sporadically. You’ll be amazed at how quickly your endurance and power improve!
Read more:Ride Smarter, Not Harder With “Zone 2” Training
3. Cycling shows you the beauty of nature.
Cycling opens your eyes to the beauty of the natural world in ways that you could never experience behind the wheel of a car or on foot. When morning light filters through autumn leaves on the path ahead, you’ll feel the subtle temperature changes as you pass through sun and shade. See those hidden wildflowers over the hill that car-bound travelers miss entirely? Even an everyday commute by bike becomes a chance to enjoy these natural wonders!
When you’re on a bike, you’re not just passing through nature — you’re part of it. You can feel the contours of the road under your wheels, transferring into in your arms and legs. The world is most vivid and alive when experienced at cycling speed, with nothing between you and your surroundings but open air.
Once you are conscious of how much you enjoy being outdoors on your bike, you can plan your rides around it. Start by researching local trails, state parks, or scenic backroads away from heavy traffic. For me, cars around disturb my enjoyment, although everyone is different. An early morning ride can offer the best wildlife viewing opportunities and the most peaceful experience, while sunset rides have cooler temperatures in the summer months.
Read more: We Love Autumn Cycling
If you’ve explored the area where you live thoroughly, try extending your range by driving to a different starting point and setting out from there. You may even want to plan your next vacation with cycling in mind!
Photo from Egor Myznik (via Unsplash)
4. Cycling inspires you to be your own mechanic.
Every cyclist eventually becomes something of a mechanic. Sure, it starts with a few simple flat repairs… but eventually, you’ll be tackling more complex maintenance tasks. For the non-mechanically minded, this can be daunting. But even if you don’t fix up your bike yourself, you still need to do some of the things a mechanic does. You’ll learn how to listen to your bike’s subtle creaks and clicks, developing a sense for when something needs attention or repair. When you take your bike to the shop, you’ll know how to describe the problem… often in terms that would sound totally foreign to a non-cyclist.
If you do feel comfortable making repairs yourself, the satisfaction of fixing your own bike is uniquely rewarding. It’s not just about saving money, although that is a perk. Bike repair lets you understand the elegant simplicity of this machine that carries you from point A to point B and everywhere in between. Once you’ve made a few fixes on your own, you might find yourself happily tinkering away in your garage and even sharing your favorite repair tips with fellow riders. The sense of pride that comes from keeping your bike running smoothly doesn’t hurt, either!
Want to try and hone this skill yourself? Learning bike maintenance doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start with simple tasks, like cleaning your chain or checking the tire pressure. YouTube videos and basic maintenance books can guide you through common repairs step by step. If you get stuck, many bike shops also offer basic maintenance classes for beginners. Focus on mastering one repair at a time, and most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask experienced cyclists or your friends at the LBS for advice or assistance when you’re stuck. You’ve got this!
Read more: Essentials: 5 Books Every Cycling Fan Should Read
5. Cycling shows you how to find community with others.
Cycling has a magical way of connecting people who might never have crossed paths otherwise.
Whether it’s joining a local club ride or just chatting with a fellow commuter at a red light, we all form a kinship over bikes. Cycling attracts people from all walks of life. We all have route recommendations, “war stories,” and an appreciation that comes from sharing the same passion.
How can we learn to stay in touch with our cyclist friends? In the busy world we live it, it may feel like there isn’t enough time to meet up or schedule a ride. If you’re building the skill of creating community, don’t forget to invite your friends out for a ride to the café, or a day on the rail-trail. Foster these connections, and you may find that amongst cycling friends is where you feel most at home!
Read more: The Joy of the Coffee Ride
Local bike shops are also natural hubs for cycling communities. Stop by and ask about group rides or cycling events, and take time to chat with staff and other customers when you visit. Many shops host maintenance clinics, social rides, or coffee gatherings that provide perfect opportunities to meet fellow cyclists and expand your social circle.
Photo by Redd Francisco (via Unsplash)
6. Cycling teaches you to be happy with your own company.
Friends are great, but one of the best lessons is learned by riding alone.
There’s a meditative quality to cycling that’s hard to find elsewhere in everyday life. As your legs settle into the rhythm of pedaling, your mind can clear of your daily worries and to-do lists. Long solo rides are perfect opportunities for deep reflection.
If the deep thoughts turn into worrying, try some peaceful mental quietude instead. It’s a rare gift in a busy life! When you pedal away from all the mental clutter, you find that you have to be happy with the most personal company of all — yourself, and your thoughts. For cyclists, learning this skill is critically important. Once you master it, your everyday rides will leave you with a refreshed perspective and renewed clarity of thought. For many riders, these solitary hours in the saddle become essential moments of self-discovery and mental reset.
Meditation on the bike — who knew?!
Want to find your own peace while cycling? Start with choosing the right time and place for a quieter ride. Early morning or later evening rides, when traffic is light and the world feels calmer, provide ideal conditions for mental clarity. Just don’t forget your bike lights to ensure safety on the road or path. If you normally ride with music, try going without it sometimes. Focus instead on your breathing and the rhythm of your feet, allowing your mind to settle into a natural, peaceful state.
Read more: When Are You a “Real Cyclist?”
Building skills through cycling takes time and patience.
What do you think? Have you noticed yourself building any of these skills over your time as a cyclist?
Take a moment to consider how cycling might be quietly transforming your life in ways you haven’t fully recognized. Yeah, maybe you’ve noticed your legs getting stronger and your endurance improving. Have you noticed any other physical or mental changes? Every time you go for a ride, you’re changing yourself — for the better.
While the skills we talked about above might seem simple on the surface, mastering them requires patience, intentionality, and consistent practice. How can you do this? Start by setting realistic goals and expectations for yourself, celebrating the small victories and consistencies, and being patient with yourself. Through this, you unlock your full potential as a cyclist.
I hope this article has shown you how cycling offers a unique blend of skill-building that other activities can match. The beauty of cycling lies in how it continues to reveal new benefits and opportunities for growth, no matter how long you’ve been riding.
Enjoy the journey!
Have you noticed yourself building any of these skills during your cycling journey so far? Let us know what you think in the comments or on social media! ★
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